The article below is a must read!! Another way they will try to raise your taxes without a vote of approval from you! Get to the council meetings and tell them what you think!

Riverside exploring storm water utility tax

The city of Riverside is considering implementing a city-wide storm water utility fee, a tax that would cost the average homeowner $33 a year and generate at least $300,000 annually.City Manager Bryan Chodkowski said this option is just one element of a broader plan to generate more revenue for the city.Last month, council approved reducing the income tax credit from 1.5 percent to 0.75 percent, a move expected to generate $700,000. The city also plans to move forward with putting an income tax rate increase — from 1.5 percent to 2 percent — on the ballot in November. The city projects that increase would generate about $1.15 million per year in revenue beginning in 2014.City Council spent a work session last week discussing a storm water utility fee and more talks are planned in the future.Some council members expressed concern that the city is moving too fast with multiple tax proposals, while others said getting feedback from the community is necessary before a decision is made.“I’m thinking we’re putting too much out there at one time,” Councilwoman Beverly Campbell said. “I’m all for fixing and doing all this, but one step at a time.”The city spends between $200,000 to $250,000 annually for storm water management, which is about 15 percent of the Public Service Department’s budget.According to an example in a city memo, to cover existing maintenance costs, the average cost to a home would be $33 annually. That figure is based on the average single-family home in Riverside having roof square footage of approximately 1,100.The total square footage of all roofs in the city is nearly 13.3 million. The city would divide $300,000 by the total square footage and the assessment per foot to fund a storm water utility would equal $0.03.That would cover existing storm water management expenses, such as material for maintenance and labor.“Storm water issues exist throughout the community all over,” Chodkowski said. “This is looked at as a way to help support work we already do.”The storm water utility fee for homeowners would increase if the city also decided to make capital improvements. Those projects would include bridge replacement, underground pipe systems, ditch lines, and curbs and gutters, Chodkowski said.The storm water utility fee also would affect businesses, churches and schools in Riverside, which is 7.9 square miles.“We need to be business-friendly in Riverside and be very careful that we don’t hurt our businesses by putting this fee in place,” Mayor Bill Flaute said. “Businesses, churches, schools — they all have budgets they have to work with also.”Chodkowski said the city needs to have a preliminary outline constructed by March of how it wants to proceed, including the storm water utility fee.“We need to look long term,” he said. “What do we want to do in the future and how do we fund our goals and objectives. Those goals and objectives should match the community’s expectations.”

Riverside’s new income tax credit kicks in Monday

RIVERSIDE — The new income tax credit in the city of Riverside takes effect today after an effort to challenge the issue failed.Legislation was passed by Riverside City Council Dec. 6 to decrease the income tax credit from 1.5 percent to 0.75 percent, and the deadline to file a referendum petition was Friday.The referendum petition challenging council’s decision to reduce the income tax credit fell short of the required number of 638 signatures.Riverside resident Shaun Doerner said he collected 395 signatures — 356 on paper and another 39 online. He said it was a “daunting task” because of the holiday season and inclement weather.“I am still looking at this as a win though,” said Doerner, who ran for mayor in November 2011. “I was able to inform a lot of residents about what is going on and will continue to do so. A lot of people are talking now about this issue.”City Council will move forward and vote on a resolution Jan. 17 that will earmark the revenue generated by the income tax credit reduction to capital expenses beginning in fiscal year 2014 and every year thereafter.About $700,000 is expected to be generated by reducing the income tax credit, and it will go toward capital equipment and infrastructure. That includes road improvements, purchasing vehicles and equipment upgrades.City Manager Bryan Chodkowski said the resolution will become effective immediately if it passes Jan. 17.“If we’re going to ask people to pay more money, then earmark it so that it can’t just go into the general fund,” Councilman Mike Denning said. “We want to show the public that we are being good stewards of their money. By doing this, it sets the record that it will always be spent on capital improvements.”The question of whether to reduce the income tax credit does not need voter approval. City councils can vote to reduce the credit — which is what Riverside did on Dec. 6 when it was approved 5-2.It was the first time in the city’s history a referendum petition was circulated. Riverside became a city in 1995.If the required 638 signatures were collected, the tax credit reduction issue would have been placed on the November ballot. The Montgomery County Board of Elections would have had to verify that the signatures were registered voters.Riverside’s income tax rate is 1.5 percent. Nearly 5,300 Riverside residents work outside the city and did not pay any income tax to Riverside because they received the full credit of 1.5 percent. That group makes up 55 percent of the working residents.A Riverside resident who works in Dayton — which has a 2.25 percent income tax rate — previously didn’t pay any income tax to Riverside. The resident will now pay 0.75 percent to Riverside and 3 percent total.Riverside projects to receive nearly $5.1 million in income tax receipts in 2013.The city also plans to move forward with putting an income tax rate increase — from 1.5 percent to 2 percent — on the ballot in November. The city projects that increase would generate about $1.15 million per year in revenue beginning in 2014.

Referendum Petition To Force Tax Increase To The BallotPLEASE SIGN AND SHARE WITH ALL YOU KNOW IN RIVERSIDE.

Click the image to Sign the Petition

- Shaun Doerner

We are starting a Referendum Petition to force the recently passed Riverside City Ordinance # 12-O-503. This ordinance repealed the existing Chapter 181, Income Tax, Section 181.15.

This ordinance has basically raised the total local income tax rate by .75% for well over half of all Riverside residents. If you live here in Riverside and work in Dayton, the city of Riverside "credited" you 100% of the cities 1.5% income tax rate because you already pay Dayton their 2.25% income tax. With this ordinance in effect you will only be credited half of Riverside's income tax rate. That translates to an extra .75% of your income to local tax totals. So if you live in Riverside and also work in Riverside you will continue paying 1.5%, but is you live in Riverside and work in Dayton your local tax rate just jumped to 3%!!! I believe we should not be punishing residents because they earn a living for their families outside the city limits. Times are hard and this is going to make it that much worse on those families! I do not believe that the local city government should be able to raise anyones tax rate without voter approval. The City of Riverside City Council took it upon themselves to do this legislatively and bypass voters. This approach is WRONG and that is why we are circulating this petition in order to force it to be approved by the voters of Riverside. PLEASE stand with me and sign the petition. We need 638 signatures by January 5, 2013. That is a very short time to get all the signatures needed but with your help we can do it!

I have the petitions with me and they are ready for your signatures. Please get ahold of me and I can bring it by or you can meet me somewhere. Myself, as well as several volunteers will be out and about knocking on doors collecting signatures also in the days ahead.

Please contact me at 937-346-6515Email me at mailto:shaundoerner@gmail.comShare this with your friends and neighbors! Together we can get this stopped and moved to the hands of Riverside Voters!

-Shaun Doerner1487 Deerland St.Riverside, Ohio 45432

According to Mayor Bill Flaute, it’s the first time in the city’s history a referendum petition is being circulated. Riverside became a city in 1995.

Income tax credit reduction being challenged

By Steven MatthewsStaff WriterRIVERSIDE — Riverside City Council is expected to earmark revenue generated by an income tax credit reduction to capital expenses tonight. But some residents want voters to decide whether the city should move forward with the tax credit reduction.Legislation that was passed Dec. 6 to decrease the income tax credit from 1.5 percent to 0.75 percent is being challenged with a referendum petition. According to Mayor Bill Flaute, it’s the first time in the city’s history a referendum petition is being circulated. Riverside became a city in 1995.Riverside resident Shaun Doerner said he is collecting signatures to put the issue in front of voters. The question of whether to reduce the income tax credit does not need voter approval. City councils can vote to reduce the credit — which is what Riverside did on Dec. 6 when it was approved 5-2.“I’m very pleased that we have a citizen involved in our government and when they see something that they feel needs changed or improved, they can be proactive in their work,” said Flaute, who voted against the measure. “I support any kind of involvement citizens have with our government.”According to the Montgomery County Board of Elections, 638 signatures are required, which is 10 percent of the votes cast for the last governor’s race in 2010.The signatures need to be filed with the city by Jan. 5 in order to be on the November ballot, Doerner said. The Montgomery County BOE would then verify that the signatures are registered voters.“At the city level, they should not be able to raise income taxes at all without a vote from the people,” said Doerner, who ran for mayor last November. “They rushed into this. As times as hard as it is, I think it’s wrong to do a tax increase legislatively at the city level. I do not oppose an income tax increase, as long as they go about it the right way and convince the voters why they need it.”Riverside’s income tax rate is 1.5 percent. Nearly 5,300 Riverside residents work outside the city and do not pay any income tax to Riverside because they receive the full credit of 1.5 percent. That group makes up 55 percent of the working residents.A Riverside resident who works in Dayton — which has a 2.25 percent income tax rate — currently doesn’t pay any income tax to Riverside. The new income tax credit is scheduled to become effective Jan. 7. The resident will then pay 0.75 percent to Riverside and 3 percent total.“Clearly, everyone has the right under our city charter and Ohio law to initiate a referendum petition,” Councilman Steve Fullenkamp said. “However, just because you have the right to do something doesn’t mean that what you’re doing is the right thing for the community.“I hope that the process, which I believe is being initiated based on the narrow interests of a few, does not result in divisions within this community.”City council will vote tonight about how to distribute the nearly $5.1 million in income tax receipts the city anticipates to receive in 2013. Currently, two-thirds is designated for general operations and one-third of it goes to public safety operations.The new formula would be as follows: general operations (57.5 percent, $2.92 million); public safety operations (33.3 percent, $1.7 million); and capital expenses (9.2 percent, $466,000).“It does reduce the flexibility of the city and how we can use the money, but I think this is a good thing,” Fullenkamp said. “It shows the intent of council is not to hire a bunch of people, but to do some of these road projects and purchase the vehicles we need.”The city also plans to move forward with putting an income tax rate increase — from 1.5 percent to 2 percent — on the ballot in November 2013. The city projects that increase would generate about $1.15 million per year in revenue beginning in 2014.

Your Taxes are About to go SKY HIGH!!!

Yes, thats right! If you live in Riverside but work in one of its surrounding cities, you really need to pay attention to what is going on right now! Now, due to the fact that city leaders realize that they are in financial trouble due to the way they spend money and the fact that they can not seem to figure out just how to bring businesses inside our city limits, they are looking at ways to penalize the residents that work outside the city limits. For instance, those of you who live here in Riverside, Ohio and actually work in the city of Riverside your city income tax rate is 1.5%. Now, if you live here in Riverside but work in Kettering or Dayton, you pay 2.25% city income tax. With the new proposal in the works, the city will cut the tax credit in half. That will add an additional .75% of city income tax to those of you that work outside Riversides city limits. They are saying that you need to pay your fair share, but when you add it up, if you work in Kettering or Dayton your city income tax rate will go up to 3%!!! That is twice the amount that you would pay if you worked in Riverside! They are going to penalize you due to the fact that they can not figure out how to bring business into the city. Is it you the residents fault that you have to look to surrounding cities to find employment? I am sure that residents here in Riverside would much rather work in the city that they live in and not have to commute if they didn't have to. Why are they wanting to punish us for this? It is my opinion that the worst part of this entire situation is the fact that they are wanting to take more money from you without even asking permission on the ballot. Yes that is right! City leaders do not have to put this increase on the ballot and ask residents permission to take more money from them with this approach. That is the entire reason they are doing it this way! They know that it would be very hard to go to the residents and convince them to give the city more of their hard earned money! They don't want to take the time to do that. I have told them all along that if they needed more money to fix the roads around here they should put a tax increase on the ballot and earmark it so that they can only use the money for road repair. I think they could talk with the voters about that issue and be able to work something out. That, my friends, would entail them actually getting out and talking with you the voters and working to get it passed. City leaders do not want to work that hard though, at least not for this. It is soo much easier for them to take a vote between themselves and increase your taxes this way. Please, talk with your neighbors, friends and families about this issue. The next Riverside City Council meeting on this is December 6, 2012. EVERYONE in this city needs to be there to show up there at 7 p.m. and tell them we will not stand for them increasing our taxes without a vote! I honestly don't even understand why they are even considering doing this with the majority of the council up for re-election next November. Attention Mike Smith, Mike Denning, Edward Schock, and Beverly Campbell. The voters will not forget about this if you do it! City Council should NOT RAISE TAXES WITHOUT A VOTE FROM THE RESIDENTS!!!!!!!!!!

Click on this image to go to the Contact Your Government section. Email all of them and let them know that you will NOT FORGET if they do this when they are up for re-election next year!

Riverside reduces income tax credit

RIVERSIDE — Riverside residents who work outside the city will begin paying additional income taxes starting early next year after city council voted to reduce the income tax credit in half.Decreasing the income tax credit from 1.5 percent to 0.75 percent is projected to generate $750,000 annually for the city, and council voted 6-1 to bring forward legislation that will earmark that money for capital improvements, such as fixing roads and purchasing police cars.“I think it’s going to be a positive for the community as a whole,” Deputy Mayor Mike Denning said. “Those on council who voted yes all believe that it’s a more fair way to do it, and we also believe it’s a vision of things to come in communities all around the area.”The vote to reduce the income tax credit passed 5-2 Thursday night, with Mayor Bill Flaute and Councilman Ed Schock voting against it.“I am very disappointed that council chose to do that,” Flaute said. “If another income tax passes, I am hoping we will rescind this action.”Riverside’s income tax rate is 1.5 percent. Nearly 5,300 Riverside residents work outside the city and do not pay any income tax to Riverside because they receive the full credit of 1.5 percent. That group makes up 55 percent of the working residents.Councilman Mike Smith said reducing the income tax credit to 0.75 percent is 75 cents per $100.“Let’s make it clear — it’s not a big tax,” Smith said.A Riverside resident who works in Dayton — which has a 2.25 percent income tax rate — currently doesn’t pay any income tax to Riverside. Once the new income tax credit becomes effective Jan. 7, the resident will then pay 0.75 percent to Riverside and 3 percent total.“The additional taxes is not going to allow me to take care of my family,” resident Connie Smith said. “I’m not going to be able to stay in Riverside. It’s not worth the additional burden on my family. I’m a nurse, and I have no choice but to work outside the city of Riverside. We’ll be leaving the area.”Denning said council still plans to move forward on putting the city’s income tax rate request — increasing it from 1.5 percent to 2 percent — on the ballot in November 2013.The city projects that increase would generate about $1.15 million per year in revenue beginning in 2014, and Denning would like to see that money earmarked as well.“I believe the residents need to know we are being responsible with their money,” Denning said. “That it’s not just going into the big bucket of money. Let’s earmark it so we can improve the roads and do positive things when we need it.”Reducing the income tax credit and increasing the city’s income tax rate have been two of the six options council has discussed in recent months in an effort to generate more revenue for the city.“Obviously, I think it sets the tone that council is committed to not only maintain the level of services that we’re providing, but to become aggressive about addressing the deteriorating infrastructure in the city,” City Manager Bryan Chodkowski said.

My Letter to Riverside City Council.

Dear Riverside City Council Members, There has been a lot of discussion on raising revenue during the past few months. I do understand that the city is in a tight spot financially. The state has cut its funding help at the local level and with the foreclosure crisis, we have seen huge drops in property taxes. I understand that as a city we have kept operating costs very low and services are still exceptional. I applaud everyone’s hard work in doing that! I do understand that the city as a whole does need to raise its revenue somehow. There have been a lot of ways to do that discussed in the past months. I am writing you this letter to caution you about one of those ways that you have been discussing. I understand that it will be a challenge to get a tax increase passed with all the hardships our families are facing. That is not to say though that it couldn’t be done. I personally think that if we explained the situation we are in to the residents while asking them at the ballot box for more money it could work if you promise them that the money collected would go directly to services they know are in need of being fixed. Maybe earmark a tax increase specifically for road repair, curbs, and sidewalks? Let the residents know that the money collected would be spent only to improve those specific things. Mark the tax for whatever you see fit but I honestly think that the residents would approve something like that since all of them know very well that those items need addressed. Pertaining to increasing taxes on people who work outside the city limits; I feel it is not right to raise taxes on anyone from a city level legislatively. I also feel it is wrong to punish someone who, through no fault of their own, must find work outside the city limits of Riverside. The majority of them already pay more in city taxes than people who are fortunate enough to work inside the city of Riverside. I am sure that residents who work outside the city would much rather be able to find work here in Riverside but the jobs just are not there. If this was to go through a resident who works in Dayton, who already pays 2.25% in city income tax, would get the pleasure of paying 3% total in city income tax! That is double what a person who works in Riverside pays. Now I do think it is unfair that the city of employment gets first dibs on taxes collected. I do think that the state needs to change that law, especially with them cutting funds to local governments, bedroom communities get hurt dramatically by that. We need to work with other bedroom communities and state leaders to try to address that. To raise taxes though legislatively on the majority of residents in our community is wrong. If that was to happen I see two things that would come about as a result. Number one; the residents would under no circumstances approve any new tax increase on the ballot. No matter if it would be for the schools, police, fire, or general operation of the city. You know that there would be absolutely no way that those would pass after this was enacted. Number two; council members that vote for this increase and are up for re-election in November may as well not even run. Residents do not forget things like this. Just like in the Lilly Creek debacle, residents do not like it when local government tries to take more money from them without a vote. I am just writing this as an opinion on this matter. I felt it necessary to write this due to the fact that I will not be able to attend this Thursday's meeting due to my continued recuperation from back surgery. I thank each and every one of you for the sacrifice you make for your community. Your service to the residents of Riverside is greatly appreciated! If I don't see you, I wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!God bless you all! Shaun Doerner1487 Deerland St.Riverside, Ohio 45432937-346-6515http://residentsforriversidesfuture.weebly.comshaundoerner@gmail.com

Riverside considering reducing income tax credit for residents

Riverside City Council is expected to vote next month on reducing the city’s income tax credit in half from 1.5 percent to 0.75 percent, a move that would generate about $700,000 in revenue annually for the city.If it passes, the new income tax credit could take effect as early as Jan. 1, 2013. Riverside’s income tax rate is 1.5 percent, so residents who work outside the city currently receive full credit and don’t pay anything to Riverside.State law grants income tax precedence to the city of employment, not the city of residence.The income tax credit does not need voter approval, but rather can be changed with a vote of city council. The first reading of the legislation is expected to take place Thursday, with the second reading Nov. 15, City Manager Bryan Chodkowski said.Chodkowski said the revenue generated would most likely go into the general fund, which also supports, in part, the police, fire and service funds.“The city has limited resources for capital improvements, so council may designate it for capital — anything from paving roads to buying a fire engine,” Chodkowski said. “If it passes, we’ll get a more definitive understanding of what the revenue is going to be, then we can determine where to spend it most appropriately.”Reducing the income tax credit has been one of six options council has discussed in recent months in an effort to generate more revenue for the city.City Council voted earlier this month to bring legislation forward to decrease the income tax credit from 1.5 percent to 0.75 percent, passing 6-1. Mayor Bill Flaute represented the lone vote against it.“By moving forward, hopefully that will generate more discussion and some of those votes will change,” Flaute said. “I want the people to say that we should raise taxes or not. Doing it legislatively doesn’t appeal to me at all.”Tom Garrett, the city’s finance director, said it would affect 5,000 people who live in Riverside but work outside the city. About 2,000 of them work in Dayton, which has a 2.25 income tax rate.“It will bring in more money,” Garrett said. “There will be some education the first year with everybody getting used to the new procedure when they fill out their tax returns.”Mike Walker, a Riverside resident, works in Moraine, which has 2 percent income tax rate.“I understand that they’re trying to generate revenue, but I think penalizing those who do not work in the city of Riverside is not the way to go about doing it,” Walker said. “Riverside is not big enough to handle jobs for everybody who lives here.”If council enacts this legislation, Walker hopes the city uses the money generated to improve the roads.“We need streets fixed,” he said. “A lot of streets are in bad shape, and not just Harshman. We need to be improving the city, not buying things.”In a presentation made to City Council in August, Chodkowski said projections for the city’s combined operating and capital figures for 2013 indicate about a $4 million shortfall — nearly $15 million in expenses and close to $11 million in revenue. A big reason for next year’s difference is the Harshman Road projects.The gaps in 2014-17 aren’t as large, but expenses are projected to exceed revenue by about $1 million or more each year.“I’m not sure it fixes our revenue issue, but it sure takes us in the right direction,” Councilman Steve Fullenkamp said. “This closes the gap. Our surplus will last longer if we do this.”Fullenkamp, who works outside the city, has been a proponent of reducing the income tax credit since council began discussing revenue-generating options, saying it’s a “fairness issue.”“Shouldn’t they be paying their part, since they receive the same services as the rest of our residents?” Fullenkamp said of those residents who work outside the city. “The income tax credit, in some cases, is a self-imposed penalty for cities like ours. We haven’t been able to generate a lot of jobs in our borders, so it works against us. That’s our reality right now, and we’re trying to overcome it.”

But They Want to Spend All This Money on Signs and Appearance

Riverside may budget $200,000 to improve city’s appearance

RIVERSIDE — The city of Riverside is considering budgeting up to nearly $200,000 in 2013 to upgrade its street lighting, signage and traffic signals in what officials say will improve the appearance of the city.City Council recently spent a work session discussing options and talks will continue next month as the 2013 budget is established.Emily Christian, assistant city manager, recommendedfive projects for the 2013 budget — changing the street light bulbs to high pressure sodium ($744); wayfinding signage along roadways ($15,000); larger metal signage at city entrances ($2,506.40); mast arm traffic signals ($150,000 per intersection); and new signage at city parks ($12,375).The total cost of the proposed projects is $180,625.40. Funds would come out of the general fund, Christian said.Riverside officials said that improving the overall aesthetics and uniformity of the city will play a major role in attracting businesses to the city.“You just have to look at the other cities around us that have made aesthetic improvements,” Christian said. “It’s helped them and we believe it will help us, too.”Council instructed staff to do additional research on street lighting, and the city is in discussions with the Village of Evendale regarding the possibility of purchasing used mast arm traffic signals for an amount that hasn’t been determined yet.The Harshman Road/Valley Pike intersection would receive the first mast arm traffic signal.“It is another budget cost to get them transported,” Christian said. “We’re looking at how much money they’re going to cost us. It’d be significantly less than if we bought them brand new.”Councilman Steve Fullenkamp said the city does have signage issues, but he’s not entirely convinced that improving the appearance of the city will stimulate economic development and make residents “feel more proud of their city.”Fullenkamp referenced the city’s decision two years ago to cut the newsletter budget in half from $20,000 to $10,000, reducing the number of times residents receive the newsletter. If funds are available in the 2013 budget, he’d prefer it to be allocated to reinstating the two issues of the newsletter.“It’s about choices and next year’s budget,” Fullenkamp said. “What’s the net effect? I can’t say any negative things about improving the appearance of the city, but there’s a cost involved.”Shaun Doerner, a lifelong Riverside resident, said if the city is serious about improving the way it looks, it will repair its roads, namely Harshman, Burkhardt and Spaulding.“The joke around town is you know you’ve come into Riverside when you’ve turned off a paved road,” Doerner said. “How much of that money could be used for the roads? To brighten up the aesthetics, when the roads get repaired, add curbs and sidewalks and signs. Do it in tandem with the roads. Right now, we’re spending money where it doesn’t need to be spent.”City Council decided in July that three road improvement projects totaling more than $5 million would be delayed until the spring of 2013. The three projects are the Harshman/Valley intersection reconstruction, and the Harshman and Burkhardt roads resurfacing projects.

Riverside looks to boost revenueCouncil will examine six different avenues of revenue enhancement.

RIVERSIDE — Riverside City Council will begin discussing ways how the city can generate more revenue — an effort that could take up to 24 months to decide while the city continues to dip into its general fund reserve.

Six different revenue enhancement options have been proposed — from increasing the city income tax by 0.5 percent to reducing the income tax credit by 0.5 percent — and city council is expected to talk about them all during its work session tonight.

City Manager Bryan Chodkowski said the city will use $4.4 million of its general fund reserve this year to help pay for the Harshman Road project as well as to cover operational expenses, decreasing that fund from $6.5 million to $2.1 million by the end of the year.

“Mathematically, you could probably say the discussions need to have some type of finality to it in 24 months,” he said.

“That time could shorten or that time could lengthen if we keep our expenses in check,” Chodkowski said. “We have consistently projected in my time here an operational deficit, and that deficit hasn’t materialized. Plan for the worst and experience the best. However, the funds we’ve been able to deposit into the bank, those amounts continue to decrease.”

During the past five years, the annual budget process forecasted an operational deficit of nearly $1 million in the city’s general fund. Because of that, Riverside cut back on items such as repairing roads and purchasing service vehicles, Chodkowski said.

The elimination of the estate tax and a reduction of the local government fund ($260,000 effective July 1, 2013) have added to the city’s financial woes.

“Operating rates for our city haven’t increased significantly,” Chodkowski said. “But the state has reduced revenues and the economy has reduced revenues. Operationally, we’ve held the line pretty good the last five years. We have to make all that money back, plus get money to cover operational costs. This conversation could go on for quite some time.”

The six options and how much revenue each projects to annually generate are:

• Increase the city income tax from 1.5 percent to 2 percent ($1.15 million)

“No one hates more taxes than what I do,” Mayor Bill Flaute said. “I really don’t want to do anything, but I don’t think that’s realistic at this point. It’s time. We haven’t done anything for a good number of years. Things have been tough, as everyone knows.”

Councilman Steve Fullenkamp said he hopes council takes a close look at the option of reducing the income tax credit. But no matter what direction the city chooses to go, he believes it’s important to include the residents.

“Roads, police, fire, EMS — those things aren’t free,” Fullenkamp said. “We want to look at the whole spectrum and involve the community to see what’s palatable and what the fairest thing to do is. It’s hard to be fair to everybody. We haven’t lost the need to provide services, so how do we make up the difference? That’s the best way to frame this whole conversation.”